The Muppets have long claimed a special place in the hearts of generations of children who love the misadventures of these large than life characters.

The appeal of these lovable beings in enduring and for many, The Muppets offered up more than just zany dance numbers, crazy antics and laughs.

These flawed creatures not only provide us with entertainment, but a unique insight into how to handle some of life’s bigger problems.

Kermit- It ain't easy being green

It’s not easy being green

Kermit’s song about his struggles being the same colour as leaves taps into questions of identity and for many US viewers, race. Artists such as Frank Sinatra, Diana Ross and Tony Bennett have recorded cover versions of Joe Raposo’s melancholy tune which Big bird sung at Jim Henson’s memorial in 1990. For many young viewers, the signature line was a reminder that even the world’s most famous frog has tough days and struggles with who he is and how the world sees him.

I hope that somethin' better comes along

Women- you can’t live with ‘em, can’t live without ‘em

Angsty teens the world over can identify with Rowlf the dog’s bluesy tune I hope that somethin’ better comes along. The musical pooch who sings his ballad about the woes of puppy love in the 1979 Muppet Movie memorably sums up the dilemma with the line “you can’t live with ‘em, you can't live without ‘em”. A down in the dumps Kermit who is pinning for Miss Piggy, is the perfect example of Shakespeare’s adage that “the course of true love never did run smooth”.

Finale

Life is like a movie, write your own ending

In the final minutes of the 1979 Muppet Movie, Kermit signs a Hollywood contract with a studio executive played Orson Wells before the cast burst into song. In the Rainbow Connection finale Kermit sings “life’s like a movie, write your own ending” and the cast answer with “keep believing, keep pretending; we’ve done just what we’ve set out to do, thanks to the lovers, the dreamers, and you!” For many a young starry-eyed Muppet fan Kermit’s argument that we all get to write the plot of our own lives is a reminder that no matter how old you get, your dreams will always matter.

Kermit and Piggy’s family in The Muppet Christmas Carol.Source: Supplied

Opposites attract

As a child watching The Muppets, a loving relationship between a pig and a frog didn’t seem odd, just mostly hilarious. Sure she was feisty and yes they argued, but they seem destined to be together. Yet on reflection their personalities and species could not be more different. Their love may seem odd or even bizarre in some ways, but it proves that all kinds of opposites do attract and can get along.

Gonzo the Great is one strange little dude, but is standing out front he crowd a bad thing? Picture: Scott Garfield/ DisneySource: Supplied

Being you is more important than fitting in

Gonzo the great isn’t like all the other Muppets and as we discover in Muppets in Space, the resident daredevil may even have alien origins. While in that film he says he’s sick and “tired of being a one-of a kind freak”, Gonzo always finds that trying to fit in isn’t much fun and he’s not the only Muppet to learn that lesson.

Remember Animal’s anger management classes from the 2011 film The Muppets? The wild child of this puppet crew’s attempt to overcome celebrity with this kind of therapy turns him into an unrecognisable mild mess whose trigger word is “drum”. Without the drumming Animal isn’t Animal.

Animal's anger management class

Stuffy of Sam the Eagle is another misfit and his appeals for traditional family entertainment often fall on deaf ears, but he’s a well-loved if easily sent up Muppet nonetheless.

Sam the Eagle. Picture: John E. Barrett./DisneySource: Supplied

Gonzo, Sam and Animal are all unique characters beloved by other Muppets just the way they are.

Let your wild side show, just don’t eat the drums

Muppets version of Bohemian Rhapsody

Animal is the ultimate wild child and whatever adventure he gets up to, whatever mess he find himself in, he’s at his happiest when showing off his wild side. Particularly with a drum solo. Sure it’s loud and not for everyone, but don’t we all need to let loose now and again?

Walter and Kermit.Source: Supplied

Know your worth

As the newest Muppet in the 2011 film, Walter is overjoyed to be working with his heroes but struggles to see what he brings to the group. But over the course of the movie, Walter not only finds where he belongs and opens the show as a welcomed and loved member of the Muppets. Walter’s journey of finding a place where he has value resonates with many young Muppet fans.

Long before the internet came up with the saying haters gonna hate, Miss Piggy taught many young girls to embrace their individuality. While she has always wanted to be loved by her public, Piggy is well aware you can’t win everyone over. She doesn’t waste her time trying to win over many people, just those who really matter, like Kermit.

Kermit and miss Piggy. Picture: DisneySource: Supplied

You only need to love one person

When Miss Piggy and Kermit make up in the 2011 film, everyone’s favourite frog reminds his lady love that while the love of the fashion world may be nice, it’s not what she really needs.

“Maybe you don’t need the whole world to love you, ya know? maybe you just need one person.” Piggy finds that she matters to the person that matters to her most and that is more important than a career in fashion in Paris.

Everyone has a talent, even if they haven’t found it yet, says Kermit. Picture: AP Photo/Disney, Jay MaidmentSource: AP

Everyone has a talent

Not everyone knows what they want to do with the rest of their lives and some struggle to know what they do best. But “just because you haven’t found your talent yet, doesn’t mean you don’t have one,” as Kermit tells Walter. So it may take a while to find out what your talent is, but that doesn't mean you stop looking.

fozzie knows how important it is to be able to laugh at life and yourself.Source: Supplied

Don’t take yourself too seriously

Fozzie Bear’s jokes aren’t always on the money, but he clearly values a good laugh above just about anything. The fart shoes he displays in the 2011 Muppet film are a great example of his sense of humour. He reminds us that being silly is fun and a necessary life skill.

Hecklers Waldorf and Statler often laugh at the other Muppets.Source: Supplied

There are things you love to hate

Resident hecklers Statler and Waldorf love to make fun of the other characters and critique their performances. Their banter and some jokes may be aimed more at the adults in the audiences, but they show us that everyone has something they love to hate.

Statler: “This show is awful!”

Waldorf: “Terrible!”

Statler: “Disgusting!”

Waldorf: “See you next week?”

Statler: “Of course.”

Beaker often learns the hard way at the hands of Dr Honeydew.Source: Supplied

Sometimes you need to learn the hard way

Poor old Beaker never seems to have much fun, often suffering at the hands of Dr Honeydew. He’s been punched, set on fire, shrunk and cloned and yet he still comes back for more. He literally learns the hard way that the good doctor’s experiments aren’t always works of genius.

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